Textile-sewing machine.



P. H. HODGKINS.

TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 11111111, 1909.

Patented Feb, 11,1913.

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F. H. HODGKINS. TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

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Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED .TUNELy 1909. n 1,052,481, Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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F. H. HODGKINS. TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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F. H. HODGKINS. TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

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F. H.-HoDGK1Ns. 'TBX'MLB SEWING MAGEINE.

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Patented Feb. 1'1, 1913.

11 SHEETS-SHEET B` P. H. HODGKINS.

TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

APPLlOATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909, 1,052,481. Patented Feb.11,1913.

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F. H. HODGKINS. TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

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TEXTILE SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909,

1,()52,481. Patented Feb. l1, 1913.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

,266 250 (Us e@ Enza/fof? @ffy FREDERICK H. HODGKINS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEXTILE-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application led June 1, 1909.. Serial No. 499,490.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. Hono- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of @ook and State of. Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Textile Sewing Machines, of which the following is a speci` fication.

, This invention relates to certain novel 1mrovements on the machine covered by my Fatents No. 793,074 granted June 27, 1905 and No. 881122granted March 10, 1908 and its object 1s, prlmarily, to facihtate handling the material, to improve the work and to increase the rapidity of operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to insure a constantI relative movement between the stitching machine and the material so as to produce an even and uniform stitch and avoid irregular work and the liabillty of breaking the thread and needle.

Another object of the invention is to transmit the motive power to the Stitching machine and to the carriage carrying the material or work through a single transmission to thereby obtain a synchronous movement and positive cooperation of the parts.

Further objects of the invention are to make the carriage for the material and the stitching lnachine movable independently of each other in either direction; to operate the carriage and' the stitching machine. or either, from the platform in front of the stitching machine, or from any osition relative to the carriage; to provi e improved means for releasing the end clamps sustaining the material whereby the may be released lfrom any position re ative to the work and both by the same means; to provide means for sustaining the material between the end clamps for the purpose ot' preserving the match of the material and holding it in proper position for the needle,

and to automatically release said means asthey reach the stitching machine; to hold the sewed material in place on the carriage by a foot board which is automatically released whcn required to discharge the material from the carriage and which is autoi matically returned to normal position on the return movement of the carriage; to

provide auxiliary sustaining means to prevent the free edge of the material from gathermg under the seam being sewed on the forward movement of the carriage;jto provide meansy for detecting a lapse in the seam and automatically stopping the machine; to provide means for supporting a mattress or other work in horizontal posi- .tion on the carriage, and to im rove the `general and detail construction o the machme to facilitate an improved operation thereof.

My machine can be used for a great variety of purposes in original and repair worl such as sewing carpets, carpet ru an more particularly, sail c1oth,-awnings, tents, shade cloth, mattresses, blankets, automobile tops and any other work in which the material must be carrie'd to the needle meehani Vcally and automatically in a movement bearing a fixed relation to the operation of the needle.

The invention may be embodied with any suitable stitching machine with one or more needles and for sewing straight Selva or raw ledge seams, strap seams, cut-o s, or miters. Y

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention and referring thereto Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the carriage showing the stitching machine and the transmission in elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing parts of the transmission. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the transmission on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the transmission on theline 44 of Fig. 9. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing the device which detects a lapse in the seam. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing the strap seam gage. Fig. 7

is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig.

6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is an elevation, partly in section, of the transmission looking in the direction of the arrow at the left of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a detail enlarged view showin the adjustable connection between the ro 97 and pitman lever. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 1 2 is a detail enlarged plan view, partly 1n section, of the variable speed mechanism and flexible bearing. Fig. 13 is a detail enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the flexible bearing for the variable speed mechanism. Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the rear end of the carriage. Fig. 16 is an ond view7 partly in section. of the rear end clamp and the means for operating the rod for releasing the forward clamp. Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view of the carriage showing one of the side matching clamps. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the intermediate part of the 'arriagtn between the end views Figs. l5 and 21, showing the table in section. Fig. 1D is a detail enlarged sectional view on the line 15M-1t) of Fig. 1S. Fig. 19u is a sectional elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 19. Fig. Q0 is a detail enlarged view, partly in section, showingT the means for yieldingly locking` the auxiliary starting and stopping devices. Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the forward end of the carriage, shown in section, taken on the line 21%21 of Fig. Q2. Fig. 22 is a forward end elevation ofthe carriage showing the stitching machine table in section. Fig. Q3 is a detail view showing the forward clamp in open position. Fig. 24 is a detail View of the auxiliary clamp. Fig. Q5 is a sectional view on the line 2.5-2.1 of Fig. Q-l. Fig. 26 is a detail sectional view illustratiiicr the adjustable bearing' for the upper end of the stitching machine head shaft. Fig. Q7 is a detail Sectional View on the line Q7-27 ,of Fig. 2G. Fig. 28 is a detail view, partly in section, showing` parts of the presser foot operating mechanism. Fig. QS) is a detail view, partly in section, showing thc connection between the clutch shaft and the yoke 99. Fig. 30 is a detail View partly in section showing the adjustable bearing for the upper end of the shaft 128.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates z stitching machine which. as before stated. may be of any suitable character adapted for the Work which it is desired to do. The stitching machine is mounted on a table Q which is supported on leg frames 3 mounted upon a platform 4. 'lfheiplatform is mounted o-n grooved wheels 5 which travel on tracks (i. The parts 'just described, witlr the exception of the stitching machine, con-` stitute the stitching machine carriage and provision is made for propelling the carriage on the tracks as hereafter described (Fig. '1).

I employ a motor 7. or any other suitable source of power, and motion is communicated from the motor by a belt. 8 to a driven pulley 9 on the main drive shaft 10 supported in bearings 11 adjustably mounted on the leg frames-3. The shaft 1t) carries a bevel gear 12 which drives a bevel gear 1?) on the vaiable speed shaft, 14 which is supported af one end in the hearing 15 (Fig. 3). The bearing l1 for the main drive shaft 10 and the bearing 15 for the variable speed shaftf14 are both supported on a bracket 16 (Fig. 2) which is adjustably mounted on the adjacent leg frame of the stitching machine Carriage. The variable speed shaft` is provided with universal joints 1T and an intermediate telescopic joint which providesfor a limited exten-ion and contraction lengthwise of said shaft. This joint comprises a socket member 18 and another'member l() (Fig. il) which works in the socket member and is provided with a stud 11i arranged in thc slot 1S of the socket member. Thus the two partsl of the shaft are keyed to rotate together while at the same time they are relatively movable lengthwise. The other end of the variable speed shaft 1-1 is supported in a floating' bearing illustrated in Figs. 3, 9. 12 and 13. This tioating bearing comprises a frame 2O to receive the shaft. and pivotally mounted at 20 on an arm 21 which is supported on thc adjustable standard 2Q (Figs. 17 9). The arm 21 has side projections 21 and sl'irings are interposed between said projections and the frame 2() (lt`ig. 13). Adjustable stops 25 are also provided on these j'nojeetions to limit the adjustment of the bearing. thus makingl the bearing self centered. The tioat bearing 20 may consist of a sectional frame, as shown. or the entire frame may be made in one castingr if desired.

The variable speed shaft 141 is provided with a bore 24 and oppositely disposed slots 2G, at one end (Figs. 12, 13) and a slidable shaft'` 27 is arranged to travel in this hollow end of the variable speed shaft and is provided with a double end roller key 28 which travels in the slot Q6 and a flat beveled edge operating key 29 which travels in the slot 25. The ends 29 of the key project beyond the periphery of the shaft 14 and are inclosed in a collar 30 which is movable on the shaft 14 lengthwise thereof. This collar is made in two over-lapping parts 30', 30 and it has an interior peripheral groove 31 to receive the ends of the key 29 and form also an oil pocket. The two parts ofthe collar are rigidly secured together by screws (Fig. 12). The collar 5)() is shifted lengthwise on the shaft. 14 by a yoke lever 33 (Fig. 9) which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 34 supported in the arms 21. A link 35 connects the yoke lever 3?) with an operating lever 8G which is pivotally mounted on the brake shaft 3T and is provided with a handle 3S. The upper free end of the/ operating lever carries a spring-pressed detent 239 (Fig. 4) which is adapted to engage notches 4t) in an indicator plate 41 mounted on the support of the friction shaft (Fig.

rlhc driving pinions 4Q. 42 and 12 (Figs. 12, 1.3), are loosely mounted on the variable speed shaft 1.4 and they are adapted to be separately locked to said shaft by the key 28 on the slidable shaft 27 which in turn is keyed to the shaft 1 1 by the key 29. The key 28 makes locking engagement with slots 43 in the head 44 of any one of the pinions.

42 is the low speed pinion, 42 the high Speed pinion and 42 the intermediate speed inion. The slidable shaft is loperated by e lever 36, as herein'before described, and the key 28 'is projected forward or back- Ward into locklng engagement with either ofthe pinions as indicated by the lever 36 n the indicator plate, and locked in that position by engagement of the detent with yhe notches in said plate. In projecting the key forward into locking engagement with the high speed pinion 42 it must first pass through the pinions 42 and 42', and to facilitate the movement of the key in both directions through these two pinions I prefer to provide the key with rollers, as shown, and provide both ends of the hub of each pinion with cam faces 45 (Fig. 12). When the key 28 is moved into operative engagement with the cam on the hub of one pinion it will cause said inion to revolve and as the key is projecte forward coincident with the rotation of the pinion it will soon find its seat in t-he slots 43 to lock the pinion to the variable speed shaft. If it is desired to lock the key with one of the other pinions the movement thereof ,may be continued through one pinion to the other without interruption, and this movement may be made in either direction as required. I have illustrated three different speed pinions and this number may be increased or diminished as desired without departing from my invention. Driving members 46 are loosely mounted on a hollow shaft 47 (Fig. 3) which is supported on yielding bearings 48 (Fig. 4) mounted on the adjustable standl ard 22. The driving members are provided on their opposing faces with concentric bevel gears 49, 49', 49 which mesh respec tively with the bevel driving pinions 42, 42 and 42. A slidable clutch shaft 50 is arranged in the hollow shaft 47 and is provided with i. transverse pin 5l which project.- through slots 47 in the shaft 47 and locks 'he frictn i iember to the clutch shaft. The fri tion :nomi: has its ends beveled at 53 to inde 'i l enragement with the .seats il on i bers and the friclioz; in.. relative to the driving mem if 55 located on the hollow shaf` friction member and the dritY ng rent: 5 fd This constitutes the friction @een whew-hy the movement is transmitir@ .il ccsired speed from the motive power if ii. [noch shaft 50, and thence to wie stil: ng emrhinc r and the material carri ge.

A stitching machine .dri-fx1 y year .N6 is loosely mounted on the hollowv shaft il and it is provided with a toothed clutch niember 57 (Fig. 3). AV inovable clutch moin ber 58 is secured to the clutch shaft 5() by a in 59 projecting through slots 6() in the hollow shaft.

58 are arranged in such relation to each other and to the friction member 52 and the driving members 46, that both clutches will be thrown simultaneously, the toothed clutch, however, being engaged before the friction clutch is engaged. The gear 56 drives a pinion 61 on a stitching machine drive shaft 62 which is mounted at one end in a iexible bearing 63 carried by an arm 64 (Fig. 1) mounted on one of the flexible bearings 48 (Fig. 4). The other end of the shaft 62 is mounted in a bearing 65 carried by a bracket 65 suspended from the stitching machine table 2 and adjustably secured thereon in any suitable manner. The drive shaft 62 is preferably provided with two universal joints 66 and it is made telescopic at 67 to provide for the lengthwise adjustment thereof as required. A stitching' machine head shaft 68 is provided at one end with a bevel gear 69 which meshes with a bevel gear 70 on the shaft 62 and at its other end with a bevel gear 71 which meshes with a bevel gear 72 on the needle bar shaft 73 (Fig. 1). This shaft 68 is provided with universal joints 74 and 75 and it is also made telescopic at 76, being in all substantial respects identical in construction with 73 (Fig. 1). This shaft. 68 is provided with ed at the top in a bearing 77 provided with a lateral stud 78 which enters an eye 79 in the bracket 80 mounted on the stitching machine. This stud is secured in the eye of the bracket by a set screw 81 and the stud is provided with a` flat face to be engaged b v the set screw whereby thc bearing is properly centered for the shaft. The shaft (SS is supported at its lower end in a bearing S2 which is adjustably mounted on the bracket 65. The knuckle joints are provided in the shaft '68 so that the stitching machine head maybe swung back to horizontal posilion for repairs, or adjustment. or oiliug` without necessitating the disconnection of any of the driving parts. and. indeed. thc stitching machine may he run in this horizontal bosition inr repairing if desired. The vstitching machine may have a single needle or a plurality of needles4 as hereafter described.

1 proviih` means wherifby the ordinary presser foot of thc stitchingmachiuc may be operated ,by a forni-.aid pressure ot' the knee' of the operator. this menus con:` y prises a presser plate Pl uz'ountcd on tlnl i lower end of a lever #l which is pivotall)Y connected at 85 to a hrm. loi S'. on the stitching machine table (hij. E?. An arm S7 is adjustably secured or h# lever Si and is engaged at its rca." end with thc free end of a lift lever 88 which is pivotally connected at itsother end to the bracket 65. A rod 89 conmicled to thc usual presser foot op erating devices of the stitching machine is provided at its lower end withY a foot, 90

The clutch'members 57 and l which rests upon the lift lever 88. A stop shaft 50.

91 fastened to the table 2 is arranged t0 limit the downward movement of the lift lever. )Vhen the presser plate 83 is pushed lmekward b v the knee of the operator the lever 84 will be swung on its pivot and this will move the rear end of the arm 87 up ward` thereby lifting the lever 88 which in turn lifts the rod 89 to operate the presser lfoot ot' the stitching machine. 1t will be found very convenient to operate the presser foot by a forward movement ofthe knee applied to the presser plate 83 when the treadle` hereafter described. is operated to apply the power to the machine.

A treadlo 92 is pivotully mounted at 93 on the platform 4 of the stitching machine carriage and it is connected on opposite sides of its pivot by pitman rods 94 with a pitman lever 95. The rods 94 are made adjustable by means of turn-laickles 94 and the pitman lever 95 passes through the brake shaft 37 and is adjustably secured therein by a set screw 90 (Figs. 9, 11). Motion ie Aansnntted froln the pitman lever 95 to shift the clutch shaft 50 lengtlnvise by connections between the pitman lever and the clutch shaft of the nature of a bellcrank lever. These connections compris a rod 97 adapted to be engaged by the pitman lever and pivotally engaged at its upper end 97 with the rocker arm 98`which is ful crumed at 98 on the standard 22 (Figs. 1. 4, 9). A yoke 99 is made integral with the rocker arm 98 and this yoke incloses an oblong collar 100 which is arranged in a grooved bearing 101 at one end of the clutch The collar 100 is divided so that it can be arranged in the yoke and the two parts ef the collar are secured to the yoke by set screws 102 (Fig. 9). It willrcadily be understood that when the pitman lever is operated by the treadle the yoke 99 will be shifted laterally to adjust the clutch lever lengtlnvise and throw or release the clutches. The friction clutch is a double clutch and it will be observed that the clutch lever may be shifted to release both the friction clutch and the stitching machine clutch or to release the stitching machine clutch and throw the friction eluteh to reverse the movement of the material carriage. Thus the stitching machine clutch is made to produce a forward movement only whereas the friction elutcn is made to produce a forward or reverse n'iovement. the reverse movement only takingl place when the stitching machine is at rest.

To stop the machine instantly at any time I provide a brake device which operates automatically on the friction men'iber of the friction clutch. This brake, device comprises a shoe'10'l adapted to engage. the friction member 52 and is mounted on a post 104 (Figs. 1 4). This post guided in a sleeve 105 which is mounted on the standard 22, and the sleeve ineloses a spring 100 which operates against a shoulder 105 0n the post to normally lift the post and apply the brake. A brake release device 107 is rigidly mounted on the brake shaft 37 and it is provided with two toes 108, 108 which engage a plate 109 adjustably mounted on the lower end of the post 104. When the pitman lever 95 is operated, as before mentioned, the release device 107 will rock with the brake shaft and 011e of the toes 108, 108" will depress the plate 109 to release the brake lshoe from engagement with the friction member. )V hen the treadle is operated to throw both clutches the toe 108 will depress the plate 109; when the treadle is operated to release the stitching machine clutch and shift the friction member to produce a return movement of the material carriage the toe 108 will depress the plate 109; when the clutches are both released the brake release levice 107 will be centered in neutral position by the spring 100 (Fig. 4) and also by the springs 55 (Fig. 3).

1 provide for a lost motion between the pitman lever 95 and the clutch shaft to insure the release of the brake device before motion is transmitted to the clutch shaft and also to permit the whole transmission to be depressed without affectingr the operation of the brake. This lost motion is provided in the connection between the rod 97 with the pit-man lever (Figs. 10, 1l). A roller 110 is mounted on the lower end of the rod 97 and is arranged to work in an elongated pocket 111 formed in the pitman lever 95. Set screws 112 are carried by the pitman lever and project into this pocket whereby the movement of the roller end of the rod 97 relative to the pitman lever may be adjustedl as required. This lost motion provided in the pocket 111 ena/bles the pitman lever 95 to swing in a limited are without communicating any movement to the clutch shaft, so that the brake device may be rel xased before the power is applied and also so that the brake device may be applied before the power is cut off.

The material carriage designated generally 113 comprises a table consisting of a horizontal section 114, and an inclined section 115 and a foot board 110. This carriage is provided with a plurality of grooved rollers 117 which travel on tracks 118 supported on arms 119 mounted 011 standards 120 which are made vertically adjustable in any suitable manner. A gear 121 is mounted on a shaft 122 which is journaled in the yielding bearings 48 (Fig. 4) and this gear is driven by a pinion 123 on the hollow shaft 47 and meshes with a toothed rack 124 on the horizontal section 114 of the ma terial carriage. By this means the material carriage may be moved relatively t0 the' stitching machine carriage and the construction is such that the material carriage will carry the work to the needle at the proper relative speed to the operation of the lstitching machine.

The transmission mechanism may be disconnected from the material carriage so that the.latter can be operated independently of the stitching machine while the power is on or of. For this purpose I provide a pedal 1ever125 (Fig. 1) which is mouiited on the standard 22 in any suitable manner (Fig. 9) and is connected by a rod 126 with one' of the yielding bearings 48 at 127 (Fig. 4). By operating the pedal lever 125 the entire transmission mechanism can be pulled down to disengageV the driving gear" 121 from the rack 124 so that the material carriage will be entirely disconnected from the transmission mechanism and the stitching machine carriage. This will permit the stitching machine carriage and the material carriage to be adjusted in either direction independently of each other and it does not interfere in any way with the operation of the stitching machine.

When the material carriage is disconnected from the rest of the machine, in the manner just described, the power may be employed, if desired, to move the stitching machine carriage forward or backward. This is accomplished by connecting the transmission with traction wheels which travel on tracks 6 (Fig. 2). A telescopic shaft 128 having universal joints 129 is journaled in bearings 130, 130', on the stitchin machine carriage. This shaft is provid at its lower end with a worm 131 which drives a worm gear 132 rigid on the shaft 133 (Fig. 1). The latter shaft carries two grooved traction wheels 134 which travel on the tracks 6. The shaft 128 carries at its upper end a bevel pinion 135 which is arranged to mesh with a bevel gear 136 on the friction member 52 (Figs. 3, 30). A spring 135 on the shaft 128 tends to hold the pinion 135 up into meshing engagement with the gear 136 and a stop 137 on said shaft enga es the upper bearing 130 to limit the upward movement of the shaft 128 and register the pinion in proper relation to the gear. A pedal lever 138 is rigidly mounted on 'a shaft 139 which is supported in bearings on the platform 4 of the stitching machine carriage and this lever operates an angle arm 140 which is pivoted at 141 on said platform and engages a collar 142 on the shaft 128. The lever 138 is secured in adjusted position by en agement with a toothed post 143. A locking bar 144 is slidably mounted in a bracket 145 beneath the platform 4 and its forward end 146 is arranged to engage the teeth of the gear 132 to lock the gear and the carriage against `travel. The locking bar is pivotally connected at 147 to an arm 148 rigidly fastened on the shaft 139. In the normal operation of the machine the stitching machine carriage will be locked against travel and in that condition the shaft 128 will be pulled down by the engagement of the arm 140 with the collar 142 to hold the pinion 135 out of operative engagement with the friction member gear 136. When the material carriage is disconnected from the stitching machine carriage, as' heretofore explained, and it is desired to move the stitching machine carriage forward or backward the lever 138 .is operated to release the arm 140 and permit the spring 135 to move the telescopic shaft 128 upward suiliciently to carry the pinio-n 135 into operative engagement with the friction member gear 136. Thereupon power may be applied from the transmission to the traction wheels 134 to move the stitching machine carriage forward or backward as desired. When the power is applied to move the stitching machine carriage forward the stitching machine does not operate but when the power is applied to move this carriage rearward the stitching machine 'will operate unless it isV disconnected from the driving mechanism. To allow for the adjustment of the friction member 52 into engagement with one or the other driving member 46 without disengaging the pinion 135 and the gear 136 I mount the bearing 130 so that it may move laterally a limited distance in the bracket 149 as the friction member is adjusted.

In the ordinary operation of the machine the operator sits on the swinging seat 150 (Fig. 1) but he is not confined to this position and I provide controlling means on the supports for the material carriage which may be operated to start or stop the machine from any position. This controlling means comprises a rod 151 (Figs. 15, 18, 21) which is supported in brackets 152 on the arms 1.19 which support the track rails 118. This rod is moved lengthwise in its supporting brackets by operating any one of a plurality of handles 153 thereon. The forward end of this rod is connected to an arm 154 rigidly mounted on the rock shaft 155 which is supported in an elongated bearing 156 on one of the leg frames 3 (Fig. 4). An arm 157 is rigidly mounted on the rock shaft 155 and is pivotally connected at its free end to va pitman rod 158 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle 92 (Fig. 9). It will be readily understood that by shifting the controlling rod 151 lengthwise the treadle can be .operated through thc medium of the rock shaft 155 and the pitman rod 158 in the same manner and for the same purpose as it is operated under ordinary conditions by the foot of the operator.

To lock the clutch throwing mechanism in on or release positions and at the same time permit the mechanism to be operated without necessitating special manipulation of the lock I provide a loose sleeve 15S) on the pitman rod 158 (Figs. 9, 20). This sleeve has tapered ends 151) and it is swiveled at 16() to a stud 1.61 which is movahly arranged in a socket member 162 which is fastened to one of the leg frames 3. Locking devices 163 are adjustably mounted on the pitman rod 158 above and below the sleeve 159 and each of these devices comprises a plurality of spring fingers 161 which are directed toward the sleeve. The construction is such that when the pitman rod is moved up or down one of the locking devices will be carried into engagement. with the tapered end of the sleeve and the spring fingers of said locking device will engage the sleeve with sutlicient friction to temporarily lock the clutch thiowing mech; anism in that adjusted position. "hile this lock is sutiicient to hold the clutch throwing mechanism in its adjusted position it can be easily broken by applying sufficient power directly on the treadle or indirectly through the controllingr rod. 'lhe locking sleeve 159 is mounted in the particular manner shown in Fig. 20 to enable it to adjust itself to the inclination and movements of the, pitman rod in its upward and downward movement.

The lengths of material 165 are sustained in position stretched taut by a rear clamp A (Figs. 15, 16) and a forward clamp Vl (Figs. 21, 23), The rear clamp is substantially the same as the corresponding clamp of the machine rcovered by my Patent No. 793,074. Referring particularly to Figs. 15 and 16 the rear clamp is mounted on a` bent arm 166 which is adjustably arranged on a rail 167 fastened to the horizontal section 1141 of the table of the material carriage. This arm is turned down aty its outer end 166 to receive the sleeve 168. bearing 169 is mounted on said sleeve and bored to receive the rods 17() which are adapted to slide in said bearings. 'l`hese rods are pre tE4 erably made in the form of a yoke which passes through the lower jaw 171 and the ends of which slide in a plate, 17; fastened on the rear end of said .jaw. Springs 17? are arranged on the rods 17() in front ot' the, bearing 169. 'llie upper jaw 171 is pivotally connected to the lowei jaw 171 at 175 and a link 176 is rigidly mounted von thel sleeve 168 and is pivotally connected at 176 to the rear end of the pivoted jaw 17-1. 'lhe jaws can he opened to be engaged with the material b i Apressing the rear end of the upper jaw 1, which swings said jaw on its )ivot 175, and to hold the jaws open l provide the jaw 171 with an ari-h V171 so that the )ivot 176 of the upper jaw can be pressed down beyond a center line drawn through the turned-down end 166' of the arm 166 and the pivot 175. To adjust the rear clamp for stretching the material I provide a shaft 177 which is supported in a bearing 177 on the arm 166 and carries a gear 178 which meshes with the rack 124. hand wheel 171i is mounted on the shaft 177 for operating the shaft and gear. A ratchet wheel 180 is also mounted rigidly on the shaft 177 and a pawl 181 is pivoted on the arm 166 to engage said ratchet Wheel for holding the clamp in its adjusted position.

"lhe forward clamp l (Figs. 21--3) is made very much like the rear clamp just described and comprises the upper jaw 182 and the lower jaw 18?) which are pivotally connected at 181. A straight arm 185 is adjustably mounted in bearings 186 on the forward end of the horizontal section 114 of the material carriage. This arm is turned down at. 185 and is bored at 187 for a purpose hereafter described. A sleeve 188 is mounted on the part`185 of the arm and a bearing 181) is mounted on the sleeve. Rods 190 are slidably arranged in said bearing and are connected at their rear ends by a plate 191. 'lhese arms are made in the form of a yoke which passes through the lower jaw 183, as in the rear clamp, and springs 192 are arranged on the rods behind the bearing 189. The plate 191 is fastened to the jaw 188. .X link 198 is rigidly fastened to the sleeve 188 and pivotally connected at 1971 to the jaw 182. 'lhe forward clamp can be operated by hand, like the rear clamp, by depressing the forward end of the upper jaw 182 and 1 also provide this jaw with an arch 182l so that the pivot 194 may be depressed below a center line drawn through the part 185 of the arm 185 and the pivot 181, to hold the jaws Open. I also provide means for opening the jaws of the forward clamp by operating the rear clamp, to release the material. 'lhis means comprises a rock shaft 195 supported in bearings 191' on the arm 185 and carrying a rigid arm 197. A finger 198 is fastened rigidly to the outer end of the arm 197 and this linger is pivotally connected by a link 19t) to the pivot 194. A rod 20() is slidably mounted in the edge of the horizontal section 14.L of the material carriage and is provided with a plurality of notches 201. 'lhis rod is provided at its forward end (Fig. 213) with a toothed rack 262 and a pinion Ltil engages said rack and is calrled by a shaft Ltlft supported in a bearing 205 on the table of the material carriage (Fie. 22 .\n arm 206 is rigidly mounted on the sha t't 201 and carries an anti-friction roller 207 which is arranged to engage a finger 208 rigidly mounted on the shaft 195. A spi'ingpressed dog 209 is slidably arranged transversely in the rear clamp arm 166 (Fig.

16) and is adapted to be thrust forward by a spring into engagement with a notch in the rod 200. Then by adjusting the rearon the head 209 lof the dog 209 to engage a socket 211 in the arm 166. Normally the dog is withdrawn from operative engagement with the notched rod and the head will be turned to engage .th'e'stud 210 with the arm as shown in Fig. 16. When it is desired to engage the dog with the notched Vrod the head will be turned so that the stud may enter the 'socket 211. In the construction shown and described the rear clamp may swing by gravity on its supporting arm to a vertical position when not engaged with the material but this is not important except that it allows the material carriage to travel forward a greater distance without engaging the stitching machine carriage. In order that the jaws of the clamp may be opened Vby manipulating the rear clamp, as just described, it isnecessary'that the rear clamp should not be permitted to swing and should be ca able only of a forward and backward sli ing movement. For this reason I provide guide rollers 212 to` engage the lower jaw 183 and these guide rollers are mounted on a support 213 which is adjustably mounted on the part 185' of the arm 185.

To support t-he free edge of the material being lsewed after it passes through the stitching machine-I provide an auxiliary clamp adjacent to the forward clamp with which the material may be engaged. This clamp comprises an upper jaw 214 and a lower jaw 215 (Figs. 22, 24). The upper 'jaw is slidably mounted on arod 216 which is secured in the bored end 185 of the arm 185. The lower jaw is rigidly mounted on the rod 216. A rod 217 (Fig. 25) is engaged with thc upper jaw 182 of the forward clamp (Fig. 21) and with the free end of the upper jaw 214 of the auxiliary clamp. Bythis means the upper jaw 214 will be operated simultaneously with the operation of the upper jaw 182 of the forward clamp andthe slidable connection of said jaw 214 with the rod 216 enables said jaw to slide forward or backward with the forward clamp. The. material may be engaged with the auxiliary clamp by pulling it through sidewise in the opening 218 between the jaws without affecting the' forward clamp and then slipping it forward between thel ends of said jaws. The material is held taut between the rear and forward clamps A and B by locking the rear clamp to the rack.Y The springs on these clamps tend to keep the jaws closed and the more the material is stretched by adjusting the rear clamp the tighter the jaws'will be clamped'on the material. The upper jaw 214 of the auxillary clamp operates in unison with the upper jaw 182 ofthe forward clamp and thus closes the auxiliary clamp.-

lVhile the material can be stretched tautl between the sustaining clamps A and B it is desirable to provide supplemental means for clamping the material between the end clamps not only to sustain the material but to hold it properly matched. For 'thispurpose I provide a plurality of supplemental er matching clamps which are supported on the material carriage and are movable relatively thereto. In the drawings I have shown c-ne of these clamps in detail in Fig. 17 and referring thereto it comprises a shoe 219 provided with anti-friction rollers 220l and adapted to travel on rail 167. A frame i Y221 is hinged to the shoes at 222 and this frame is normally sustained in horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 17,

by a dog 223 which is pivotally vmounted at 224 on the frame and is arranged to engage the shoe, as shown. Arod 225 is slidably arranged in the frame 221 and a post 226 is rigidly secured to said rod and projects downwardl through a slot 227' in the frame and is provided with a pin 228which oper ates in an inclinedslot 229 in the dog. curved 230 is pivotally mount'ed at one .end at 231 on the frame 221 and its other end 230 is arranged to clamp the edge of the material between itself and the frame i 221. lever 232 which' is pivotally mouptedl at 233 on the frame 221 and is p ivotally connected by a link 234'with thevjaw at 235; `-A lockrlhis clamp is operated by handleV ing device .236 is pivoted at 237 on the frame' 22l'and the end of this device engagesl a.-

hecl 238 on the jaw 230. This locking de` vice is provided with notch-es 239- and the handle has a tooth 240 which engages vthe notches. The end 241 ofthe sliding rod 225 adjacent 'to the jaw 230 is beveled to eni gage the heel 236 of the locking device 236 so that. when this rod is pushed tothe right in Fig. 17 it will'swing the locking device on Y its pivot thereby releasing it from engagement with the tooth 240 and at thesame time by engagement with the heel -238 swing the jaw 2 30 to open position. The rod 225 is moved to the right in Fig. A17 toOperat the jaw 230 by a-tripper SM2-which is seehine table (Fig. 21). A roller 243 onthe end of the rod 225 is, arranged to engage .cured to the rear edge of the stitching naathis tripper and the latter beveled at its 4 end 212 to form a cam track on which the roller tra veli". As the roller travels up this cani track the rod 223 will be moved to release the clamping jaw 230 asbeforo described. A spring 244 is arranged on the rod 225 at the lower end thereof to engage a shoulder en the fra-mc` 221 to roject the rod 225 nern'iallyto the-left in Fig. 17 so that the clamping jaw 230 may-be locked in clamping position. The movement of the rod 225 may be limited by'engagement of the post with the end walls of the slot 227. The tripper 242 pro-jects from the stitchingv machine table alongside of the adjacent edge of the lnaterial carriage table and I provide a roller 246 on'the tripper to engage the table of the material carriage when pressure is applied to space the tripper from said table. j

'hen the tripper operates the sliding rod 225 as just described the post` 226 disengages the dog 223 from the shoe 219 and this permits the frame 221 land the parts carried thereby to swing from horizontal position, after the clamping jaw 230 has been re- -leased, to 'a vertical position, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 17, where it will engage a stop arm 247 fastened to the stitching ma chine. This stop arm arrests the'niovement of the supplemental clamp while the material carriage continues its forward movement. As before stated I may employ a plurality of these supplemental.clamps and hence I make the tripper 242 project rear? ward sufficiently from the stop arm 247 (Fig. 21) to permitthe supplemental clamps to be nested one against the other with the first against the stop, the cam 242 of the t-ripper being located sufficiently in rear of the stop 247 to permit the last or rear supplemental clamp tobe tripped. Each shoe 219 is provided 'with a depending arm 248 which is adapted to engage a stop 249 fastened tofi'one of the arms 119 (Fig. 17)` The supplemental clamps are provided with arms 248 of different lengths to engage cor-V respondingly positioned sto-ps 249 so that as they are carried back with the material carriage on its return movement they will be stopped in their proper relative position.

To limit the forward movement of the (airriage at .any desired bpoint I provide a tripper device comprising a roller 250 (Fig. 22) which is arranged in the path ot the gear 178 and is carried by a lever 25,1 pivotally mounted at 252 on a bearing 25? which is adjustahly secured lon the tra l 1.18. 'lhis lever 25|V is connected by a 'link 254 with a collar 255 adjustably faslemxd ou the controlling rod ll. roller 25V is suitably mounted -on the collar to engage the underside ot the tract( llH. rl`he stop device may be set to he operated by the gear 178 in any desired position and when the lover 2:"l.is swung by engagement ol' said gear with the roller 25() the controlling rod 15l will-.br moved lengthwise to throw the friction member of the trausndssion mechanism out of engagement with the driving member. 'lhe brake device works automatically, as heretofore explained, and when the friction/member is shifted, as just described, the machine will be brought to rest automatically.

To limit the rearward movement of the carriage I provide a stop device 257 which is adjustably fastened on the rail 167 to engage an arm 258 on the rock shaft 155 (Fig. 4). When this stop engages the arm the friction member of -the transmission mechanism will be automatically operated in the same manner as just described.

The foot board 116 is hinged at 259 to the inclined sect-ion 115 of the material carriage table. Arms 260 are rigidly mounted on a shaft 261 which is supported in suit.- able bearings on the material carriage' and links 262 are pivotally connected at their ends to said 'arms and to the foot board (Fig. 1). Means for automatically swinging the footboard to dump the load and return the foot-board to elevated position are provided and these means comprise a shaft 263 having a universal joint 264 and supported in bearings 265 on' the material carriage. This shaft carries at one end -a bevel pinion 266 which meshes with a bevel gear 267 on shaft 261. lA gearv 268 is .slidably mounted on the other end of the shaft 263 and is adapted to be operated'by ay short toothed rack v269. on one of the tracks 118 (Figs. 1, 18). A ratchet Wlieel270 on the shaft 263 is engaged by a pawl 271 pivotally mounted on a rodv 272 on the bearing 265 and this pawl and ratchet wheel hold the footfboard.V in elevated position. A lever 273 is pivotally mountedat 274 on the table section 114 and this lever has an arm 275- to engage and operate the. pawl 271 (Fig. 19). Thcengaging faces/271 'of the pawl 271 and 275 of the arm' 275 are inclined. so that when the lever 273 is swung on its pivot to move the arm 275 relative to the pawl 271 the inclined face 275 vof the arm will slide on the inclined face 271 of the pawl thereby swingingthe pawl o n its pivot to release it from engagement witlrthe ratchet' rx-.lease the forward clamp a further movement in the same direction will operate the lever 273 torelease the foot. board. The t'oot board may be released by operating 1the lever 2725 manually and without a'tl'ectmg the clamps, if desired. l`o prevent the toothoard from swinging downward unrestrained I provide one or more dash pOtS A tter Y' 277 'of'f simplefconstruction which `are sup- 5 oneendjtof'the pistonstem 279of each. dash pot-"andto an arm 280rieidly'secured on the shaft261sothat`whent e foot board is` releasedandstarts to" swing downward the pisto'n'jwill be pushed into the cylinder of the'dash potto eontrolthe downward movement of Itheffootboard. The foot board isr'eturned to elevated position yautomatically'as the'materialcarriage is returned to initalposition. This is accomplished by meansof a ycam arm 270 which is fastened to the 'ratchet wheel 270 and is arranged to engage" the yoke lever 268 which is pivoted'on 'the underside of the horizontal section 114 of the material carriage and engages a groove 268f in the hub of the gear 268 (Fig. 1). A spring 271 attached to the bearing 265 and the yoke lever 268 pulls the gear 268 normally out of osition to' mesh with the rack 269, but wien the sha ft 263 is turned by the foot board swinging down to dumping position the cam arm 270 is moved to engage the yoke lever and push the gear 268 into position to mesh with the rack 269. Then on the return movement of the carriage when the gear 268 engages the rack 269 the shaft 263 will be turned reversely to raise the foot board to elevated position. The cam arm 270 by engagement with the yoke lever 268 holds the gear 268 in position to mesh with the rack 269 but on the return movement of the shaft 263 the cam arm is carried back to initial osition, and then to hold the gear in mes ing engagement with the rack, against the tension of sprinfr 271 I rovide a hook 266 on the yoke laever whicl engages a lip'209 on the rack 269. )Vhile the gear is traveling on the rack the foot board is returned to elevated position and after the gear leaves the rack and the hook 266 passes beyond the lip 269 the gear is moved on the shaft 263 by the spring 271 so that it will not engage the rack on the next forward movement of the material carriage or on any rearward movement of the carriage until the foot board is again released.

The detector for automatically stopping the machine when the stitching machine fails to properly stitch comprises an arm 281 mounted on a stud 282 which is arranged in the socket end 283 of a rod 284 supported in a bracket 285 on the `stitching machine carriage .(Figs.'4, 5). The stud 282 is provided with a` pin 282' which enters a slot 283- in Athe"soeket end of the rod 284 to locktherstud and detector arm to said rod so th'at'theywill turn together,- the detector armbein #held inkoperative position, as sho'wninA 4 by alsp'rin'g 286 fastened at t one; end -to t e lbracket 285. and at its otherv end to the rod 284. The outer free end of the detector arm 281 is preferably made knife edge to more readily enter between the two layers of the material being sewed to Vengage the seam 287. The lower end of the 282 is provided with a finger 288 which engages a slot- 289 in an inclined arm 290 rigidly mounted on the shaft 34 (Fig. 9). This afm 290 carries a rooved roller 291 which is engaged by the ink 35. The oke lever 33 is engaged with the link 35 y a pin `292 which operates in an angular slot 293 in said link. In the normal operation of themachine the pin 292 will be seated in the off-set end 293 of said slot to connect the yoke lever and the link together and a light spring 294 is provided on the yoke lever to hold the parts in this position. But when the stitching machine fails to stitch properly and the spring 286 swings the detector arm and the rod 284 the finger 288 operating in the slot 289 will swing the arm 290 and lift the link to unlock the latter from the pin 292 whereupon a spring 295 on the shaft 34 will throw the yoke lever 33 toA carry the slidable key shaft out of operative engagement with the driving inions 42, 42' and 42 thereby stopping tlie maclnne automatically. (Figs. 12, 13.) To readjust the parts to normal position the lever 36 is operated to thrust the link forward so that the pin will again be engaged with the offset end of the slot 293 after which the lever can be operated to move the slidable key shaft into engagement with any one of the pinions. To prevent the detector arm from pushing the material away from the bight gage 296 I provide a star wheel 297 which is adjuslably mounted on an arm 298 pivoted at 299 in a bracket 300 on the stitching machine table (Figs. 5, 8). This star wheel is adjusted in an angular position relative to the seam and in engagement with the material so that as the material is fed through the stitching machine the star wheel will tend to feed it sidewise against the detector arm and in this way resist the ressure of the detector arm on the material.

he arm 298 has a heel 301 which engages a plate spring 302 fastened to the bracket 300 and this permits the arm t0 be swung into o erative position, as illustrated, where it is liield by the spring, or into an inoperative position, as desired.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a gage for sewing a stra scam. This gage is made in one piece an comprises a plate 303 which isfastened to the stitching machine table immediately back of the needles 304. The plate is bent upon itself in S-shape to form a pocket 305 for one layer 306 of material and a, pocket 307 for the other layer 308 ofmaterial, these pockets being arranged oney above the other so that the edges of the material will be over-lapped as the material 

